Match-box



IIo

UNITED STATES' v VPATENT Feroe.

JOSEPH F. GENT,-OF COLUMBUS, INDIANA.` l

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters ,Ilatrent No. 549,433, dated June 4, 1895. Application filed September18,1894.` Serial No. 5725340. Y(No model.)

To all whom it may concern:

yBe it known that I, JOSEPH F. GENT, a citizen of the United States, residing at Columbus, in the county of Bartholomew and State of Indiana, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Match-Boxes; and I do hereby declare the following to be a full, clear, and exact description of the invention, such as will enable others skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use the same.

My invention is an improvement in match boxes and consists in the novel features of oonstruction hereinafter described, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, which illustrate one form in which I have contemplated embodying my invention and said in-V vention is fully disclosed in the following description and claims.

Referring to the said drawings, Figure lis a longitudinal sectional View of a match-box constructed according to my invention. Fig. 2 is a transverse sectional view of the same. Fig. 3 represents a longitudinal sectional View of the matchbox, taken at right angles to the line of section of Fig. 1. Fig. 4 is an enlarged view broken away, showing the position of a Y match between two of the corrugated'partitions or plates of the box. Fig. 5 is an end view, enlarged, of a portion of several of said partitions or plates.

The object of my invention is to provide a match box in which each match Awill be 'ignited by simply drawing it out of the box and which will hold all the matches separated from each other so that they cannot become ignited within the box. y i

In the drawings A represents the shell casing of the match box which may be constructed in any desired manner, the said shell or casing being provided with a hinged cover' at each end. Y j

B represents one of said covers which is preferably made straight as shown in full( lines, but it may be made curved or rounding if preferred as indicated in dotted lines in Fig. 1.-

B representsthe other cover or lid which is preferably curved or hollow as is usualiin match boxes and both covers will be provided' withmeans for retaining them in closed position. In this instance,I have shown coiled springs arranged about the .pivots of said covers to hold them normally in closed posi- .tion but any other desired form of spring or closing device may be employed.

' One side of the shell or casing A is provided lwith a flat spring a which is preferably secured to the casing at its central portion in any desired way, and has its ends o. o. extending to points adjacent to the ends of the casing as shown in Fig. 3.

Within the shell or casing A- are a series of 'corrugated partitions consisting in this instance of plates O C preferably formed ot' lsheet material placed side by side, the depressed portions on each side of each plate beingopposed to the depressed portions of the nextadjacent plate thus forming a series of longitudinally extending apertures between each two plates into which matches may be inserted, as indicated in Figs. 2 and 5. I prefer to form the' corrugations of said plates of such'depth that when two plates are placed together the apertures thus formed will be of slightly less diameter than a match so that `when matches are inserted the plates will be forced apart slightly and will thus hold the matches firmly between them. The plates will be held pressed together by theends o. o. of-the spring a and the spring will yield to permit the matches to be inserted.

At the end of the shell or casin g A adjacent to therounded cover B', I provide a transverse shoulder or web o? against which the plates O O abut when they are placed within .the box. rIhe matches will be inserted at the `beyond Ysaid plates as shown in Figs. 1 and 4 so. that they can be readily drawn out, and the shoulders or webs a2 a2 will prevent the plates from being moved longitudinally when the matches are inserted or removed. It will noti be necessaryV to secure the plates against removal from the other end of the oase as the spring ct will always exert enough pressure upon them to prevent them from falling out and the matches will always be pressed in and drawn out in a direction toward the shoulders or webs o2 o2 as will be readily under- Stood.

The corrugated plates C O are provided adjacent to the end from which the matches are ICG to be drawn out with serrated or roughened portions c c, in any desired way on each side as shown in Figs. l and 4, so that as the matches are drawn out of the box, they will be ignited as the heads pass between the said roughened portions.

In order to use my improved match box the iiat cover B is opened and a number ot matches are inserted into the apertures between the corrugated plates stem first so that their stems will project into the hollow cover B at the other end of the box. The cover B is then closed and when it is desired to use a match the cover B is opened and a match drawn out, thereby lighting it as the head passes between the roughened portions c c of the plates. The spring a will allow the plates C C to separate as matches are placed between them and will hold the matches firmly soas to preclude the possibility of their iguiting.

I prefer to have a [iat cover B and a curved or hollow cover B as it makes the box more compact in form and enables the user to determine which cover to open in order to Withdraw a match or to fill the box, whereas if both covers were alike it would be difficult if not impossible to always open the right one.

WhatIclaim,and desire to secure byLetters Patent, is-

l. A match box provided with a series of detached partitions for spacing the matches having at one end a cover to open the box for the insertion of the matches and a cover at the other end to permit the removal of the same, the cover at the end 'at which the matches are inserted being the only retaining means for the partitions at that end of the box, substantially as described. A

2. A match box consisting of a body open at each end provided with shoulders adjacent to one end and a cover at the opposite end, and a series of partitions located in said body and engaging the said shoulders whereby the cover maybe opened and matches inserted without moving said partitions, substantially as described.

3. Amatch box provided with a series of corrugated partitions to separate and hold the matches, a cover at one end to permit the insertion of the matches, and a hollow cover at the opposite end for the removal of the matches, whereby the matches are entirely inclosed and are permitted to project beyond the partitions for ready removal, substantially as described.

4. A match box having a main body open at each end provided witha cover at one end and shoulders adjacent thereto, of corrugated partitions located in said body engaging said shoulders and a spring forcing said partitions together, whereby the matches may be inserted at one end of the box without moving said partitions, and the cover at the opposite end opened to permit the withdrawal of the matches, substantially as described.

5. A match box comprising among its menibers a casing open at both ends and provided with transverse shoulders adjacent to one end, a series of corrugated partitions disconnected therefrom located in said box and engaging said shoulders, a spring for forcing said partitions together, a cover for one end ot' said box to give access to the interior of the box for the insertion of the matches without moving said partition and a hollow cover for the opposite end of said box to accommodate the stems of the matches and permit of their removal, substantially as described.

In testimony whereof I affix my signature in presence of two witnesses.

JOSEPH F. GENT. Witnesses:

L. P. WHITAKER, J. D. KINGSBERY. 

